Mechanical-musical-instrument player.



. PATENTED DEC. 27, 19 04.

L. U. JOBBS. MECHANICAL MUSIGALYINSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 29, 1904.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

LAWRENCE U. J OBES, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BALDWVINCOMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

MECHANIOAL-MUSICAL-lNSTRUMENT PLAYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,365, dated December27, 1904.

Application filed February 29, 1904. Serial No. 195,789.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE U. J OBES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMechanicalMusical-Instrument Players, of which the following is a clearand full description.

This invention relates to that class of mu- I0 sical-instrument playerswherein the action thereof consists of a series of striking pneu matics,a series of primary valves, and a series of'puppet-valves, combined withan exhaust-bellows and operated by a perforated music-sheet.

My invention consists of a regulator for the air-vents ordinarily placedin the primaryvalve box in the class of musical-instrument playersreferred to, the object of which is to 2 improve upon the means usuallyemployed of maintaining the vents in working condition and to providemeans for their proper regulation, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows 5 my improved vent-regulatorin position in the primary-valve box. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of myvent-regulator.

In the description and drawings corresponding numerals of referenceindicate correspond- 3 ing parts.

1 is the primary-valve box; 2, the primary valve, the stem 3 of whichrests on the primary pneumatic A. The passage 5 leads from the pneumatic4 to the pipe 6. In the front wall 9 of the box 1 I place myvent-regulator 7, which rests in the opening 8 directly in the path ofthe passage 5. One end of the regulator is placed flush with the outersurface of the wall 9.

4 My' vent-regulator 7 consists of a tube having a screw-thread runningthe entire length of its outer surface, with a slot 17 at one end, bymeans of which it is run into the opening 8 to its proper position. Theopening through the tube is threaded from the front end to the point 10,about half the length of the same. In the threaded end of the tube isfitted the regulating-screw 11, one end of which is cone-shaped and theopposite end flattened to receivearegulating-tool. Atapointwhere 5 thethreaded inner portion of the tube ends a transverse opening 12 passesthrough the same, said opening being somewhat larger than the diameterof the regulating-screw. This allows an air-space around the screw atthis point. Instead of the hole 12 a slot cut in the side of the tube atthe same point will answer the purpose equally well for the passage ofair. I prefer, however, the use of the hole, as described.

It will be seen that when the regulatingscrew is run in to its limit thetube will be closed to the passage of the air and that by reversing themotion of the screw an air-passage is maintained through theunobstructed 5 portion of the tube and the opening 12, passing throughthe same, and by varying the position of the screw the amount of airpassing through the tube can be perfectly controlled. This makes itpossible to regulate the vents 7 in the primary box from the outside byhaving the regulating-screws in an accessible position.

The ordinary manner of providing vents for instruments of this class isto glue a paper punching over the end of the opening 8, in the center ofwhich is a small hole made with a needle. The holes are often stopped bythe accumulation of dust, and in order to clear them or enlarge them itbecomesnecessary to open up the primary box in order to gain access tothem.

The operation of my improved vent-regulator is as follows: Thevalve-chamber 13 is under suction, which creates a partial vacuum, 5 andthe valve-disk 14 on top of the valve-box is closed. hen air is allowedto enter the pipe 6, it passes through the regulator 7, the passage 5,and raises the pneumatic 4:, which closes the lower valve-disk 15 andopens the 9 upper valve-disk 14 and allows the air to enter the passage16. hen the air is closed off from the pipe 6, the parts return to theirformer normal position, and in order that the pneumatic A may actquickly a vent is provided through my improved vent-regulator for theescape of the air into the chamber 13.

My improved vent-regulator possesses the advantages of always beingaccessible for regulating. The amount of air passing through the samecan be increased or decreased at will, While it is only necessary to runin the regulating-screw until it stops and reverse to the proper pointfor cleaning the vent of any dust that may accumulate, and thus impairits action.

Having described my invention, Whatl desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a mechanical musical instrument player, a vent-regulatorconsisting of a tube having a transverse opening for the passage of airthrough the same and through the tube at the rear of said opening; thefront end of said tube being provided with a regulatingscreW, the innerend of Which is cone-shaped and adapted to open or close the tube at therear of said transverse opening, the exterior of said vent-regulatorbeing provided With a screw-thread its entire length and a slot at oneend by means of which the same is placed and held in position,substantially as described.

Wa es 2. In a mechanical musical instrument player the combination ofthe primary-valve box, the primary-valve pneumatic, the pipe connectedwith the passage leading to the primary pneumatic and a vent-regulator,consisting of a tube having a transverse opening for the passage of airthrough same, and through the tube at the rear of said opening, thefront end of said tube being provided with a regulating-screw, the innerend of Which is cone-shaped, and adapted to open and close the tube atthe rear of said transverse opening; the exterior of said vent-regulatorbeing provided With a scre\v thread its entire length, and a slot at oneend by means of which the same is placed and held in position; saidventregulator being interposed in the passage leading from the pipe tothe primary pneumatic, substantially as described and set forth.

LAWVRENCE U. J OBES.

\Vitnesses:

J. W. MAcY, H. K. BLIM.

